Light weight building material

ABSTRACT

The present invention relates to a light weight building material ( 1 ) for structural work. The light weight building material ( 1 ) comprises at least three walls, a first wall ( 11 ), a second wall ( 12 ) and a third wall ( 13 ) formed from a single piece of galvanized iron sheet to form a triangular-section. However, a circular section may also be used while a rectangular section is preferred. The galvanized iron sheet is cut and cold-rolled to form the light weight building material ( 1 ).

1.0 TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0001] The present invention generally relates to a building material,especially to a light weight building material for use in structuralwork.

2.0 BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] With our forest fast diminishing, timber supply is getting scarceand inconsistent in grade. This makes the cost of timber as a buildingmaterial prohibitively high. Over the years, building contractors anddevelopers have been forced to look for alternatif materials to reducethe cost of building construction. Many approaches have been proposed inthe past to utilise light weight building material made from metal forstructural works such as roof trusses or the likes, however until thepresent invention, the results have not been very encouraging. In manyprior art parctices, the truss members are formed from a U-shape sectionof a metal sheet. In one example,the ends of the legs of the U-sectionare tightly folded back to form a thick double edge. The top chords inprior art practices, are formed of inverted U-shaped sections havingflanges projecting outwardly from the ends of each of the legs toprovide greater rigidity.

[0003] One of the major difficulties with many of the prior artpractices to manufacturing of metal roof trusses is that differentcomponents are used for bottom chords and the top chords resulting intwo different fabrication lines or at least two different set ups forfabrication lines are required. Furthermore, two different stock itemsmust be maintained in inventory. In addition, because of the flanges ofthe top chord members, it is necessary to provide for cutting theflanges off at least one of the top chords at the apex of the truss.

[0004] Due to the unfriendly U-shaped of the building material, handlingand working with the building material is rather difficult addingunnecessary cost to the construction. Strength and rigidity of thebuilding material are also suspect. The present invention attempts tosolve at least partially if not completely these problems.

3.0 SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0005] Accordingly, it is the primary object of the present invention toprovide a light weight building material for use in structural work.

[0006] It is another object of the present invention to provide a lightweight building material for use in structural work that has aconsiderable strength and rigidity.

[0007] It is yet another object of the present invention to provide alight weight building material for use in structural work that is rustproof for long life.

[0008] These and other objects of the present invention are accomplishedby

[0009] A light weight building material (1) having a wall section (11)

[0010] characterized by

[0011] said wall section (11) being in a piece of metal sheet forming anendless wall.

4. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0012] The present invention may be better understood from reading ofthe following Detailed Description taken in conjunction with theaccompanying drawings in which:

[0013]FIG. 1 illustrates a light weight building material according toone embodiment of the present invention.

[0014]FIG. 2 illustrates a cross-sectional view of the light weightbuilding material.

5. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0015] Referring now to FIG. 1 which illustrates a light weight buildingmaterial according to one embodiment of the present invention and FIG. 2which illustrates a cross-sectional view of the light weight buildingmaterial. The light weight building material (1) comprises at leastthree walls, but unlike the U-section of the prior art, the presentinvention uses a triangular-section. However, a rectangular-sectionhaving four walls, a first wall (11), a second wall (12) a third wall(13) and a fourth wall (14) is preferred. Alternatively, a round sectionmay also be used. The close section will eliminate the necessity to foldback to form the double edge for strength and rigidity of the prior artpractice.

[0016] The light weight building material (1) is formed from a singlepiece of metal sheet, advantageously a galvanised mild steel sheet. Themetal sheet is cut to size and rolled-formed to form the light weightbuilding material (1). This is a simple single run machining.

[0017] To form the light weight building material (1), the metal sheetis first being provided with a first interlocking means (31) on one endand a second interlocking means (32) on the other end. As the metalsheet is rolled over the roll-forming machine, the first interlockingmeans (31) will mate the second interlocking means (32) to therebyformed the light weight building material (1). To further strengthen thejoint, rivets may be applied along the mating line of the interlockingmeans.

[0018] To further strengthen the light weight building material, thefirst and second walls (11, 12) are provided with a reinforcing means(2). The reinforcing means (2) may be a plurality of ribs orcorrugations formed on the walls (11, 12)

[0019] It will be understood by those skilled in the art that changesand modifications may be made to the invention without departing fromthe spirit and scope of the invention. Therefore it is intended that theforegoing description is merely for illustrative purposes and notintended to limit the spirit and scope of the invention in any way.

What is claimed is:
 1. A light weight building material (1) having a wall section (11), characterized by said wall section (11) being a piece of metal sheet forming an endless wall.
 2. A light weight building material (1) as claimed in claim 1 further characterised by said endless wall having at least three walls, a first wall (12), a second wall (13) and a third wall (14) to form a triangular section.
 3. A light weight building material (1) as claimed in claim 1, further characterized by said endless wall having four walls to form a rectangular section.
 4. A light weight building material as claimed in claim 1, further characterized by one end of said metal sheet being provided with a first interlocking means (31) and the other end being provided with a second interlocking means (32).
 4. A light weight building material (1) as claimed in claim 1, further characterized by said first interlocking means (31) interlocks said second interlocking means (32) to form said light weight building material (1).
 5. A light weight building material (1) as claimed in claim 2, further characterized by said first and second walls (12, 13) being provided with a reinforcing means (2).
 6. A light weight building material (1) as claimed in claim 5, further characterized by said reinforcing means (2) being a plurality of ribs.
 7. A light weight building material (1) as claimed in claim 5, further characterized by said reinforcing means (2) being a plurality of corrugations.
 8. A light weight building material (1) as claimed in any one of claims 1, further characterized by said metal sheet being galvanised iron sheet.
 9. A light weight building material (1) as claimed in claim 1 further characterised by said endless wall being a hollow section. 